BADMINTON

WHAT IS BADMINTON? A racquet sport Rectangular court that is divided by a net Men’s and women’s singles Men’ and women’s doubles Mixed doubles

SINGLES AND DOUBLES There are two sets of boundaries in badminton Men’s and women’s single All doubles There are two sets of boundaries in badminton Singles are played using a shorter width and longer length of the court. Doubles are played using a wider width and a shorter length of the court

HOW DO YOU PLAY THE SPORT? Players score points by striking a birdie with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in the opponents’ half of the court. Each side may only strike the birdie once before it passes over the net. The play (rally) ends once the birdie has struck the floor.

WHAT IS A BIRDIE? A birdie is a feathered projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently that the balls used in most racquet sports. The feathers create a much higher drag, causing the birdie to decelerate more rapidly than a ball.

PLAYING THE GAME The object of the game is to hit the birdie back and forth across the net with the racquet without permitting it to touch the ground, attempting to hit the birdie into the opposing court so that it cannot be returned.

GENERAL RULES OF THE GAME The server may not serve until the opponent is ready. The server and player must stand with the limits of the respective service court. If, in the course of rally or play, the birdie touches and passes over the net the play is still valid and play can continue. If, at any time during play the birdie gets caught in the net, that is known as a let and a redo will be made.

SERVING At the beginning of the game (0 – 0) and when the server’s score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves from the left service court. If a server wins a rally / point, they serve again from the alternate service court. If the receiver wins a rally / point, they become the new server. They then serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score if odd, and right if their score is even.

SCORING A badminton match is comprised of the best of three games of 21 points. It's a rally point system whereby whoever wins a rally, wins a point. In case, the score reaches 20 all, the side that gains a 2 point lead first wins the game. For instance, the score is 27-25, the side scoring 27 will win. At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point is the winner of the game. The side winning a game is entitled to serve first in the next game. Now this is the time for intervals and change of ends. Players can change ends at the end of each game. However, if playing a third game the leading score reaches eleven points then players can change ends.

FAULTS / PENALTIES If, in serving, the birdie at the instant of being struck is higher than the server’s waist that is a fault. If , in serving, the shuttle falls into the wrong service court or falls short of the service line, beyond the long service line, or outside of the main boundary lines, that is a fault. If a player reaches over the net to hit the birdie, that is a fault. If at any time during play a person or racquet touches the net, that is a fault.